Phuket officials are urging tourists to pay attention to safety warnings, as unpredictable waves in the Andaman Sea continue to pose deadly risks during the monsoon season.
Red flags have been raised along many beaches, and authorities strongly advise against entering the water, following a string of drowning incidents over recent days.
On the afternoon of June 11, two separate cases of drowning were reported just before 4:00 p.m.
The first victim was a 41-year-old Kazakhstani tourist, Yevgeniy, who was pulled from the water at Kata Beach in Karon Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket District.
Lifeguards and rescue teams attempted CPR and transported him urgently to Chalong Hospital. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
That same afternoon, a second incident occurred near Bang Tao Beach in Cherng Talay Subdistrict, Thalang District. Lifeguards at Surin Beach alerted rescue units after finding a foreign female tourist unresponsive in the water.
She was brought ashore with no detectable pulse. CPR was performed before she was transferred to Thalang Hospital in critical condition.
These two tragedies followed a similar incident the day before at Karon Beach. On June 10, around 4:00 p.m., a 41-year-old Albanian woman drowned while swimming with her 43-year-old Egyptian husband on their first day in Phuket.
Lifeguards recovered her body and attempted to revive her, but she was declared dead at the scene. Her body was later sent to Vachira Phuket Hospital for autopsy and forensic examination.
In response to these incidents, local authorities have reinforced safety measures. Red flags, clearly marked in Thai, English, Chinese, and Russian, have been installed at high-risk beach areas to warn of strong currents and high waves.
Officials stressed that even beaches that appear calm or shallow can be hazardous during the monsoon season, as hidden currents and sudden wave surges can quickly sweep swimmers into deeper waters.
Tourists are reminded to obey lifeguard instructions and stay out of the sea when red flags are present.
